The Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences, Option in Science Education provides excellent preparation for students interested in becoming a middle school or introductory high school science teacher and fulfills one of the requirements for admission into a single subject teaching credential program. This degree is also designed for future science educators pursuing careers in informal science settings such as museums, nature centers, state parks, or national forests. There are opportunities for internships and volunteer activities providing practical training and experience.
The program offers:
Low teacher-to-student ratio.
Courses designed specifically for future science teachers and informal science educators.
Collaborative learning spaces located in the new state-of-the-art science building.
Grants and scholarships exclusively for future science teachers.
Internships and volunteer activities that provide practical training and experience.
Opportunities for early teaching experiences at the Gateway Science Museum and local middle schools.
A student club and professional network to support future science educators.
Advising Requirement
Advising is mandatory for this program. Consult your department advisor or program coordinator for information.
E-advising Tools
Use the interactive e-advising tools designed to help students graduate within four years. These tools can be accessed through the Student Center in the Portal.
Grading Requirement
All courses taken to fulfill program course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as credit/no credit grading only.
Some courses require a minimum grade to progress in the program. Minimum grade requirements, including those listed on course requisites, are considered graduation requirements.
Course Requirements for the Major: 64-65 units
Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Courses in this program may complete more than one graduation requirement.
Select at least one of the following options to complete the major course requirements.
Science Education Option: 15-16 units
The option in science education is designed for students preparing to be middle school science teachers, or seeking a career as an informal science educator in a museum or outdoor setting such as state parks, environmental camps, or nature centers. Successful completion of the program fulfills one of the requirements for admission into a single subject teaching credential program.
To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. Consult with an advisor to help select courses that provide breadth to your University experience and possibly help satisfy credential, professional, or graduate school prerequisites or support completion of a minor.
See Bachelor's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
General Education Requirements: 43 units
See General Education and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education requirements and course offerings.
American Institutions Course Requirements: 6 units
The American Institutions graduation requirement, as mandated in Title 5, Section 40404, requires that students satisfactorily complete courses in United States history, the US Constitution, and government and American ideals (including California state and local government). At Chico State, HIST 130 meets the US history requirement (US-1), and POLS 155 meets the US Constitution and government requirement (US-2) and the California state and local government requirement (US-3). POLS 155 also fulfills three units of GE Area 4, Social and Behavioral Sciences. See Bachelor’s Degree Requirements for more information.
Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
You must complete a minimum of two courses that focus primarily on cultural diversity. At least one course must be in US Diversity (USD) and at least one in Global Cultures (GC). See Diversity Requirements for a full list of courses. Many courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.
Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Writing Across the Curriculum (EM 17-009) requires you to take four Writing (W) courses, two of which are upper-division courses designated for your major. Specifically, you must:
Take one Writing (W) course.
Take one Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) course.
Complete a GE English Composition (1A) course before taking the GW course.
Earn a grade of C- or higher to receive GW credit.
See Writing and Math Requirements for details on additional writing requirements you need to complete for graduation.
Major-Designated Courses
Writing (W) Course
ENGL 333W Advanced Composition for Future Teachers (W)
ENGL 350W Science, Technology and the Literature of Cultural Change (W)
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) are clear, measurable statements that describe how students demonstrate mastery of the knowledge, skills, and values of the discipline as appropriate to the degree. Graduates of this program are expected to achieve the following PLOs:
Understand and apply the crosscutting concepts across the scientific disciplines as represented by the four Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards.
Use the science and engineering practices necessary for scientific literacy in the 21st century as outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards.
Design learning environments for diverse audiences that promote scientific discovery and understanding in formal and informal settings.
